Bowling ball bag



NOV. 4, 1952 M WESTLEY 2,617,012

BOWLING BALL BAG Filed May 25 1951 Tig'j'.

i JNI/ENTOR. FREDERICK M WESTLEY Patented Nov. 4, 1.95.2

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BOWLING BALL BAG Frederick M; Westley, Kirtland, Ohio ApplicationMay 25, 1951, Serial No. 228,214l

(C1.v 21a-46) 4. Claims. 1

This invention relates in general to bowling ball bags.

It has been my observation that as long as the temperature of the ball remains as high as the ordinary room temperature of the bowling alley hall, the ball after having been wiped by a dry cloth, will remain dry and easily handled for bowling purposes. When, however, the ball is appreciably colder than the temperature of the bowling alley hall, condensation occurs, leaving the surface of the ball moistY and slippery. This is due to the material composition of the ball. This is such a pronounced and enduring condition that repeated wipings with a cloth fails to eliminate it. The only remedy in such a case is to raise the temperature of the ball to one that approximates that of the hall. Of course, this could be done by placing the ball in an oven or by the patrons leaving their balls on the rack or in lockers in a bowling alley hall, the managers of which keep their hall well heated at all times.

However, it is especially true that devotees of the bowling game, commonly known as ten* pins, employing bowling balls with thumb and finger holes due to the large size of the ball,l generally prefer to own and use their own private ball. This is because they are measured for their own particular grip, or spacingof their thumb and nger holes, with respect to the sizeof. the ball. At many halls the locker space is inadequate or too expensive for the bowler. Many;V times the bowler is not content to bowl in one, hall alone but likes to visit other halls. He may also belong to more than one league or ycompete in ,bowlingtournaments. In coldweather the ball becomes cold during the bowlers trip to the hall. In many cases the bowler drives to his place of employment with his ball in a bag in his automobile. After his days or nights work. he proceeds to the bowling alley hall for a usualthree-game league competition. The ball iscold, dueto the prevailing outside cold weather. 'Ihe bowler repeatedly wipes the ball with a dryA cloth but. it

remains moist and slippery due to-y atmospheric` condensation. The ball is difficult to handle and the bowlers score suffers materially; The hall has no facilities to heat the ballsgof the bowlers. In the case of cold outsidegweather-thechances are that the temperature of the ballapproaches that of the hall at the time of the conclusion of the three-game competition. Thus, theball is dry after the nights bowling engagement hasbeen concluded.

It is, therefore, oneof Vthe ,primary objects of my invention to remedy this ,prevailingsituation by providing asimple, inexpensive, efiicient and expedient means, as an accessory device to the bowling ball bag, whereby the ball may be maintained at a predetermined temperature, atleast equal to ordinary room temperature, especially at times when the exterior of the bag isbeing exposed to cold temperatures below that of ordinary room temperature.

Another object is to provide such a heating element in the form of a fabric pad with electrical resistance elements embedded therein regardless of the source of current,.whether it be a dry battery, a power line or asuitable plug leading to an automotive vehicle dashboard and its battery or ignition system.

Another object is to provide such a heating pad that will not interfere with the conventional centering and shock absorbing cup andits intended functions in thebowling ball bag.

Another object is to provide such a heating pad that will provide means for specically enclosing the ball within the bag in order to provide room for such Vother bowlers accessories as shoes, and the like, in either the remaining space, or other compartments, within the bowling ballbag, as a whole.

A further object is to provide,A asabowling, ball bag accessory, means for a quick detachable source of electric current for the electric heating pad.

With the foregoing. andother objects in view, the invention resides in the combination of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter set forth in the following specification and appended claims, certain embodiments thereof being illustratedv in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a View` in general side elevation, partly in perspective, of a bowling ball bag constituting one form that my invention may take, the bag being shown partly broken away to show the bowling'balLcentering cup and ball heating pad, and also a side bag compartment for the optional enclosure of a dry cellbattery and a lead to a source of .electricity for the electrical resistance wires of the-bowling ball heating pad, the bagbeing of the generaltype that is more or less of dimensions that conform laterally with the outside dimensions of the-ball;

Figure 2 is a view in cross section taken through the type o f bagv shown in Figure 1,showingthe ball in the pad, andbowling `shoes inassembled position inffull lines;

`Figure 3. is a viewin end-elevation of the bowlin Figure l, the bag being shown partially broken away to show the ball, centering cup andheating v pad; and

Figure '7 is an enlarged detail View of the bowling ball centering and shock absorbing cup and a fragmentary portion of the bowling ball bag.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, I have shown in FiguresV 1, 2; and 3 a generally conventional bowling ball bag I. It is furthermore conventional practice to employ acup 2 on the base of the bag. The cup 2 is preferably of cushioning resilient material. Its cup formation assists in properly positioning the ball .within the bag for ball carrying purposes and its cushioning characteristics assist in the protection of the ball in the bowlers handling of the ball enclosing bag. In Figures l and 2 the centering cup 2 may be secured by any suitable easily removable or relatively permanent securing means tothe bottom base of the bag. Also in Figures l and 2 the bowling ball 3 is shown positioned in the centering cup in the bag.

Now, in further pursuance of the object of my invention, I have shown in detail in Figures 4 and 5, one form that my invention may take with respect to the bowling ball heating pad to be incorporated in the bag. This heating pad is generally indicated at 4 and may include a strip of fabrics with layers 5 and 6 with electrical resistance wires 'I suitably imbedded therein. One form that the heating pad may take is shown in plan view in Figure 4 which includes a central aperture 9 to embrace and not interfere with usual ball centering, positioning and shock absorbing functions of the resilient cup 2. As shown in Figures l, 2, and 4, the electric heating pad I is preferably provided with a conventional Y.slide fastener 8, commonly known as a zipper, for

joining the two top ends of the pad to enclose the ball and leave a remaining space within the bag to enclose additional accessories within the bag, such as a pair of bowling shoes I8 as shown in Figure 2.

Given a suitable source of electrical current, the modification of my invention shown in Figure 6 does not materially differ in fundamental concept. The bag is of the elongated type in which the centering and positioning cup 2v with its removably connecting snap elements I6 and II on the cup and bag base are more important as such to provide greater remaining packing space within the bag.

The source of electrical power 'to make the resistance wires 'I eifective as a heating element for the heating pad 4 may vary among a dry battery, a power line source or a plug connection with the dashboard of an automotive vehicle, and this applies to both types of bags.

Accordingly, in Figure 1 I have shown a separate'pocket I2 to enclose a suitable dry cell battery. This pocket I2 is shown to be arranged externally of the bag but it may be arranged internally of thel bag if desired. Element I3 merely illustrates a cover flap for pocket I2. The plug and wire assembly shown at I4 merely illustrates a removable connection between the resistance wires and any source of electric current. Element III illustrates any type of rheostat for controlling the current supply and the attending heat supply from the pad to the ball.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided anew and novelfcombination including a bowling ball bag having incorporated therein an electrical heating pad with electrical resistance wires with an adjustable current supply and which pad provides a separated compartment for other bowling accessories and does not interfere with the centering, positioning and shock absorbing functions of the conventional ball cup Vin the base of the bag.

In order to accommodate the resistance wires to provide an adequate-heating pad, the pad is relatively thick. If no relief, such as the aperture 9, were provided, the pad due to its thickness, would interfere with the bowling ball positioning function of the cup. It is for this reason, as before stated, lthat I have provided the aperture Il.

I claim:

1. In a bowling ball bag, a bowling ball positioning cup of cushioning material carried by the base of said bag, the inner surface of said cup being inclined upwardly outwardly to provide a frustro-conical pocket to receive said ball and conform to a portion of its spherical surface, said bag having a heating pad comprising a fabric pad with imbedded electrical resistance wires for heating said ball, said pad having an aperture therein to surround and accommodate said cup, said pad being adapted in assembled position to `substantially encircle said ball within said bag to separate said ball from the remainder of the interior of said bag to provide space for the accommodation of other bowling accessories, said pad having releasable closure means.

, 2. In a bowling ball bag, a bowling ball positioning cup of cushioning material carried by the base of said bag, the inner surface of said cup being inclined upwardly outwardly to provide a frustro-conical pocket to receive said ball and conform to a portion of its spherical surface, said bag having a heating pad comprising a fabric pad with imbedded electrical resistance wires for heating said ball, said pad having an aperture therein to surround and accommodate said cup, said pad being adapted in assembled position to substantially encircle said ball within said bagto separate saidball from the remainder of the interior of said bag to provide space for the accommodation of other bowling accessories, said pad having releasable closure means, a source of electrical current and a manually operable electrical current control.

3. Ina bowling ball bag, a bowling ball positioning cup of cushioning material carried by the base of said bag, the inner surface of said cup beingv inclined upwardly outwardly to provide a frustro-conical-pocket to receive said ball and conform to a portion of its spherical surface, said bag having a heating pad comprising a fabric pad with imbedded electrical resistance wires for heating said ball, said pad having an aperture therein to surround and accommodate said cup.

4. In a bowling ball bag, a bowling ball positioning cup of cushioning material carried by the being inclinedupwardly outwardly to provide a frustro-conical pocket to receive said ball and conform to a portion of its spherical surface, said bag having a heating pad of fabric material with electrical resistance wires embedded in said pad and connectable to an electrical source said pad being adapted to be Wrapped around said ball to electrically heat the ball, said pad including an area, devoid of said resistance Wires, and adapted to be placed under said ball.

FREDERICK M. WESTIEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

Number Number 6 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Williams Feb. 19, 1929 I-Ialpin Sept. 19, 1933 Roberts Nov. 24, 1942 Marick July 23, 1946 Geyer Sept. 20, 1949 Broscoe et al Oct. 23, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain May 22, 1913 

